Sabres have skated themselves into a bind

'Among the series of indignities that the Buffalo Sabres have endured this season — including dropping attendance, the arrest of their former owner and an injury to their top scorer — their biggest misfortune may be that they are bottoming out a year too early. By all accounts, the absolute best time to be at your worst will be next season when a Russian, Alexandre Ovechkin, is eligible for the NHL draft.'